South Lanarkshire pubs are always keen to help charities

WARM-hearted pub regulars across Lanarkshire are never slow to dig deep in aid of charity.

Over the years, county pubs have staged events in aid of a diverse range of charities and good causes.

Last year, Neil Robertson , chief executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping said pubs in the United Kingdom netted £110m for charities every year.

And in these recession-hit times, that amounts to a staggering £3000 per pub.

Few pubs have been more giving than Hamilton’s George Bar which has held events in aid of numerous causes including The Haven, Blantyre, Disease Prevention Organisation, Stonehouse, 4th Lanarkshire Scout Group, Woodside Primary, Hamilton and a fund set up to help a South Lanarkshire rugby player who broke his neck.

Regulars at the George also netted cash for the Lanarkshire branch of the muscular Dystrophy campaign in honour of Paralympian boccia boys Stephen and Peter McGuire, from Hamilton.

Lynn Adams, treasurer of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association who runs the George with husband Colin, said: “Fundraising and helping the community is a huge part of what we are and these days most pubs try to ensure that all money raised goes directly back into their local community.”

Other county pubs who go the extra mile for charity include Bar West, Hamilton, who – with the help of regulars at Carrigans, Hamilton – last September raised £2500 for St Andrew’s Hospice and Monklands Hospital.

Macmillan Cancer Care benefited to the tune of £1710 when a fund-raiser was held at Hamilton’s Mill Inn in January.

A total of £1000 went to Children’s Hospice Association Scotland following a charity race night organised by the golf section at Hamilton’s Auld Hoose pub.

Susanne McGhee and Lizann McGown from Hamilton’s Fox and Ferret netted cash for leukaemia and physiotherapy units at Yorkhill.